Work Text:
Spock hadn’t come onto the bridge for Alpha shift.
For the first few minutes Jim wasn’t particularly worried, thinking that Spock had simply been held up by something else and was fully planning on gently poking at his First Officer for it when he did show up. The next few minutes had Jim becoming more and more worried about where Spock could be, and by the time the thirty minute mark rolled around he excused himself to go check on the Vulcan, leaving Sulu at the con.
Walking briskly down the halls of the Enterprise, Jim tried to keep himself from worrying into a downward spiral - Spock was probably fine, not in danger. Maybe he was just really held up by something, or he got a call from his father, or… or something else. He sighed, hoping it was nothing and he could just scold Spock for worrying him. Idly he wished that their relationship was developed enough for them to just share a room so things like this didn’t happen, but Jim knew it was still too new, and Spock was still a bit shy. Thankfully his trip to his First Officer’s quarters was relatively quiet and when he reached Spock’s door, he knocked a few times and waited.
And waited.
“Spock? You in there?” He called.
Nothing.
“Spock, if you don’t answer, I’m gonna have to come in.” He warned, frowning a little.
Still nothing.
Sighing, Jim quickly punched in his override code and the doors slid open to Spock’s room, heated for his Vulcan physiology. Walking forward, Jim looked around in the dark room as the doors slid closed behind him. Spock’s quarters were sparse, and at first Jim couldn’t find him until his eyes slid over to the bed where he saw a figure underneath the covers.
Jim’s concern instantly tripled.
Spock never slept in, and certainly never overslept for work. He didn’t even seem to register Jim coming in, and that was the most worrisome. Crossing over to the bed in a few long strides, Jim knelt down by the bed and gently placed a hand on Spock’s shoulder, seeing a bit of pitch black hair poking out of the covers.
“Spock? Hey, Spock?” He called softly, and finally Spock responded with a small noise, shivering a little and turning over, looking at Jim with half-lidded eyes. Up close Jim noticed that Spock had a bit of an odd flush to him along with darkened bags under his eyes.
Quite frankly, his First Officer looked awful.
“Jim…? I… Oh.” Spock seemed to notice that he must’ve been late to work and tried to sit up, but the movement was sluggish and Jim immediately went to gently push him back down on the bed.
“Woah, hey no. You’re not fit to be on the bridge. Are you sick?” He asked softly and Spock rubbed at his eyes a little, humming in response.
“No… I…”
“Spock, don’t even think about lying to me when you’re like this.”
Spock huffed softly and tried to sit up again, just to be pushed back down by Jim again. “I simply… have found myself to be somewhat tired, Captain. It is no issue, I will be on the bridge in five.”
Jim would have believed him had Spock’s speech not slurred a bit in his delivery. His hand moved from Spock’s chest from where he pushed him back down onto the bed to his shoulder and rubbed it in a soothing way, resisting the urge to smirk as Spock practically melted into the touch and his eyelids fluttered.
“Sure, sure. I’m going to go check up on something and then I’ll come back, alright?” Jim said, getting up and Spock made some unintelligible response but made no effort to move. Snorting a little to himself, Jim left Spock’s quarters and went to get Bones.
A short trip, some explaining, and no shortage of light-hearted complaining from Bones, the two made their way back to Spock’s quarters, finding Spock not bridge ready, but once more passed out under the covers. While Bones made a short comment to himself about overworking Vulcan first officers, Jim couldn’t help but think of how adorable Spock looked curled up underneath his blankets - weighted and heated to ease his anxiety and need for warmer climates.
It was a testament to how poor Spock apparently felt when he didn’t wake up when Bones went over and scanned him, checking over his vitals. Jim was worried, but when Bones turned to him not looking all that concerned, he let himself relax a little bit.
“He’s exhausted and has a bit of a fever, but nothing a bit of rest won’t fix. I’m gonna put him on medical leave for two days - make sure he comes and sees me then so I can check on him.” Bones explained, getting up to leave and Jim nodded.
“Thanks, Bones.”
“Yeah, yeah. If you’re gonna hover over him this much, you might wanna get him some soup for when he wakes. Could use the nutrients, he’s too damn skinny.” Bones groused as he left and Jim chuckled, moving to Spock’s side.
He simply observed Spock resting for a little bit until he found the sleeping Vulcan too adorable to resist, and he reached out to gently pet him behind his ear the way that he liked but would never say out loud. Jim smiled as Spock unconsciously began to purr weakly and leaned down to kiss the top of his head gently.
Spock made a soft trilling noise and opened his eyes a bit to look up at Jim, fondness clear in his tired eyes. It made Jim’s heart warm.
“Hey, didn’t mean to wake you. Get some rest and I’ll bring some soup for you when I’m on break in a couple hours, okay?”
“Jim…”
“Bones put you on medical leave so don’t try getting up again.” Jim warned lightly and aside from a bit of a pout (as much as Vulcans could pout), Spock didn’t argue this time.
Before he got up to leave Spock’s quarters, Jim leaned forward to give Spock’s forehead a gentle kiss. “Love you.”
Spock looked nearly ready to fall asleep once again, but mumbled a soft declaration of love in return.
Jim smiled softly as he pulled the covers more securely over Spock and headed back to the bridge.